Golf appliance and exercising device



Dec. 19, 1922. 1,439,338. H. W. SM ITH.

GOLF APPLIANCE AND EXEBCISING DEVICE.

FILED 050.11. 1920.

lilllIIIIIHIHllHlHHIHllllllllHll||lHlllllllllllHlIIHIHTH] FIG 3 IN VENZIOR ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 19, 1922.

HARRY W. SMITH, OF AKRON, OHIO.

GOLF APPLIANCE AND EXERCISING DEVICE.

Application filed December 17, 1920.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, HARRY W. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Golf Appliance and Exercising Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to certain new and useful improvements in exercising devices and has particular relation to a new and novel device which may be employed for the purpose of acquiring proficiency in playing the game of golf.

The primary object of the. present invention resides in the provision of a golf appliance particularly designed for instruction in the art of striking a golf ball, the same being capable of use either within a home or upon an open field.

. A further object of the invention has reference to. a golf appliance and exercising device wherein a rubber ball or balloon is elastically anchored to a supporting mat and instantly returns to a set-up position on the mat after being struck by a golf club.

A still further object of the inventionineludes the specific formation of a rubber ball wherein one side thereof is provided with a flattened surface to permit the ball to remain in .afixed position when so placed.

The method of forming'the ball also enters into the invention, the same including a circular plate having an open side of a ball or balloon enclosing the same and vulcanized thereto to form an integral structure.

The inventionprimarily constitutes a golf instructing device that may be employed in the home for perfecting certain drives, especially the driver and brassie shots and also creates sufficient exercise for a person when a golf course is inacessible.

With the above general objects in view and others that "will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and then claimed.

In the accompanying drawin forming a part of this application and to which reference is bad by like characters designating corresponding parts throughout the several views Figure-1 is a perspective view of a golf appliance constructed in accordance with the present invention showing a mounting mat Serial No. 431,448.

for a rubber bag, ball or balloon elastically maintained upon the upper face thereof.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1 showing the manner of elastically retaining the golf ball on the mat.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the mounting mat in inverted position disclosing the longitudinal recess in the, bottom face of the mat for the elastic ball-anchoring cord and,

Figure +l is a cross sectional view of a golf ball or balloon constructed in accordance with this invention.

Broadly defined, the invention comprises a mounting member 1, an object member 5 and an elastic connecting member 7 which is adapted to normally hold the object member 1ion a certain position on the mounting mem- Briefly described, the present invention aims to provide a device employed in the instruction of golf and also intended as an exercising device. There is provided a mounting mat of any desired configuration, although represented in rectangular form having a longitudinal groove or cut out portion in the bottom face thereof with a depending stud or button extending into said groove adjacent the inner end, while an opening is formed in said mat at the outer end of the groove. A rubber golf ball, bag or balloon is mounted upon the upper face of the mat and carries an elastic cord depending through the mat opening and extending longitudinally of the groove for attachment to the button.

The process of forming the ball or balloon also enters into the gist of this invention, the "same including a rubber disk having anannular groove in the periphery thereof into which groove the walls of an opening in a balloon or bag are received and subsequently vulcanized thereto toform an integral homogeneous structure.

lVhile' it is not intended that the mounting mat be limited to any particular design or shape there is illustrated by the reference numeral 1 a mat of rectangular form constructed of rubber or other suitable material with a longitudinal groove or cut out portion 2 formed in the bottom face thereof so as to extend inwardly fi'om adjacent one end of the mat and terminate in proximity of the center thereof. The groove 2 is of suflicient depth to provide a space for a dependin lug or button 3, having the lower end t ereof terminating in the. same plane as the bottom face of the mat, the button 3 being formed adjacent the inner end 2 of the slot. For purposes presently to appear an opening 4 extends through the mat 1 adjacent the outer end 9 of the groove 2 constituting a passage from said groove to the upper face of the mat.

A rubber bag or ball 5 has a flat disk portion Gformed upon one side thereof. adapted normally to seat over the mat opening 4 and to retain the ball in this position, an elastic cord 7 is secured as at 7 to the disk portion 6 of the ball, the cord extending through the opening 4 and longitudinally of the groove 2 for anchoring upon the button 3 as clearly shown in Figures 2 and This invention should not be limited to the exact type of ball employed, one novel method of forming the same being illustrated in Figure 4, there being provided a disk 6 having a peripheral groove 6" into which the walls 5 of the opening in the ball 5 are received. The connected disk and ball erably placed upon a flat surface, such as afioor, when used within a house with the groove 2 adjacent the floor and the ball 5 presented for striking with a golf club. The ball 5 may be struck with unlimited force by a golf club without danger of breaking the same and when so struck the ball will be moved to the dotted line position shown in Figure 2 and offer suflicient resistance to the golf club to eliminate all possibility of a wild swing. The direction that the ballwill travel in being so struck will indicate to a person the exact point of engagement of the head of the golf club with the ball. With a device of this kind great accuracy may be attained in striking a golf ball, while at the same time it offers convenient, efficient means whereby healthful exercise may be obtained whenever desired. During inclement weather and when golf courses are inaccessible the device may be employed in the home'to give suflicient exerciseand practice. It is also intended that this appliance may be employed upon an open field or wherever desi ed as the only area'reqiiired in the use of the same is for a full swing of a golf club, inasmuch as the ball travels only avfew inches in distance'from the met. The ball 5 is also capable of use detached from the mat 1, affording amusement by using the elastic cord to drive the same against objects to produce unusually loud sounds.

The ball 5 may also be used as a practice ball without the elastic cord 7 and without the mat 1, inasmuch as the ball is of such light weight that it can be used indoors without danger of injury or breakage to other objects and when used out of doors it can be driven but a short distance and is therefore easily and-quickly recovered.

While there is herein shown and described the preferred ,embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in all details illustrated without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the subject matter claimed.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is 1. A golf appliance and exercising device comprising a mounting member, a ball normally disposed in a certain position thereon and an elastic connecting member therebetween, said connecting member arranged to permit the ball to be driven therefrom and adapted to automatically return the same to its initial position thereon.

2. A golf appliance and exercising device comprising a flexible mat, a ball superposed in a certain position on said mat and an elastic cord connected to said ball and to the underside of said mat for normally retaining th ball thereon, so that it may be propelled from and automatically returned to said position.

3. A golf appliance and exercising device comprising a mat the bottom face of the mat having a longitudinal groove therein, a button depending from the upper wall of said groove, said mat having an opening therein communicating with said groove at a point spaced from said button, a ball supported on said mat over said opening and an elastic cord carried by said ball and extending through the mat opening and groove for attachment to said button. 7

4. A golf appliance and exercising device comprising a mat, a button depending from the bottom face of said mat and a ball disposed on the upper face of the mat and having an elastic cord connection with said button, whereby the ball is returned tothe mat after being struck by a golf club.

5. In a device of theclass described, the combination with a mat, of a ball and elastic means whereby the ball may be normally retalned in a certain spot thereon, said means arranged to permit the ball to be moved a limited distance from said spot and arranged to return the ball when so moved to a teed position on said spot.

6. in a deviceof the class described, the combination web a mat, of a ball having a flat side and .an elastic connection between the fiat side of the ball and the mat, said connection adapted to yieldably hold the ball in a certain position on said mat with the flat side thereof contacting therewith.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination with a mat, of a ball elastically retained thereon and including a relatively thick disk portion and a relatively thin spherical portion vulcanized thereto.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination with a mat, of a ball and means to elastically retain the ball thereon said ball including a relatively thick disk portion and a relatively thin spherical portion vulcanized thereto, said retaining means embodying a cord permanently secured to said disk.

9. In adevice of the class described, the combination with a mat of a ball having a tee and an elastic cord coaxially secured in the tee portion of said ball, the other end thereof being secured to the underside of said mat so as to normally retain the ball in a teed position at a certain spot thereon.

10. A practice and amusement ball comprising an elastic, hollow, inflated substantially spherical body having a flat relatively thick base and an elastic cord extending coaxially through said base and secured thereto.

ILA practice and amusement ball comprising a relatively thin, hollow, elastic, infiated body provided with a thick, disk-like base and an elastic cord secured to said base.

12. In a device of the class described, the combination of a base member, an object member and means to elastically secure said object member to said base member so that the same will be normally held in a certain position thereon, but may be driven therefrom and when so driven automatically returned to said position.

13. In a device of the class described, the combination of a base member and an object member and means to secure said object member to said base member so that the same is normally held in a certain position and which may be driven therefrom and when so driven will be automatically returned to said position.

14. In a device of the class described, in combination, a mat, a ball, and means to yieldably secure the ball in a certain spot on the 11 )per face of said mat so that the same may e driven from the mat and automatically returned to said spot thereon.

15. In a device of the class described, a mat having an elongated passageway disposed longitudinally thereof on the underside thereof, an opening leading from the forward end of said passageway to the upper face of said mat, a ball, an elastic cord having one end connected to the ball and extending through said passageway with the free .end thereof secured at the other end of the passagesaid cord adapted to normally hold the ball on the upper face of thermat at a point above said opening and adapted to return the ball to said point when the same is moved therefrom.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set HARRY W. SMITH.

' my hand. 

